Brass Brush with Wooden Handle

After a piece comes out of the pickle, a brass brush is what brings the surface back to life. Running it over the metal with a little washing-up liquid removes the last of the oxidation and flux residue and gives silver a soft, satin sheen. It's a step most jewellers do automatically after every soldering session, and having a dedicated brush at the bench makes it quick.

This brush has a wooden handle and brass bristles, and it does the job well. It's the most affordable option in our brass brush range, sitting below the Japanese-made and German-made versions. If you're equipping a bench for the first time or want a spare brush to keep near the pickle, this is a sensible choice.

A couple of things worth knowing about using a brass brush: always use it wet with a drop of washing-up liquid, and keep it for use on silver only. Using it on copper or mixed metals can transfer trace amounts of copper onto your silver, which will cause problems if you solder again before pickling.

Worth knowing:

• Use wet with washing-up liquid for best results
• Keep for silver use only to avoid copper contamination
• Wooden handle for a comfortable grip